My Life Is A Song #93

The year 2010 was a big one for our family. My wife was on maternity leave with our son and the job I had expected to work at during this time had evaporated due to the lingering aftereffects of the 2008 economic meltdown combined with the cratering of natural gas prices. So, you know, kind of like now. With nothing but time on our hands we decided to embark on a rather elaborate adventure by our standards. We rented a house near our respective home towns and lived there for five months; March through July.

This opportunity allowed us to be close to our parents (now grandparents) with our young family and, unbeknownst to all but us, test run the potential for a move back home. Well, we never did move back, obviously. These golden handcuffs the oil patch secretly puts on you are terribly difficult to remove, at least not without unwanted help. Nonetheless, we had a fantastic five month experience with all sorts of crazy stuff happening from a significant death in the family to bats in our bedroom.

My daughter also came out of her toddler shell during our stay. She turned three soon after we arrived and within days was a whole new, gregarious young person. She was also paying closer attention to the music on the radio which was still completely under my control, unlike now. As we were in my old stomping grounds I’d started listening to old radio stations from my youth noting that many had evolved in format. Mostly, though, we were listening to modern rock/alt rock. Honestly, I don’t know what genre it was but it wasn’t classic rock or pop.

My daughter and I eventually each chose a favourite song during our stay, each getting regularly airplay at the time. Her choice was definitely an unsettling omen of the years yet to come. I’m not sure what the song I chose says about me but it’s best not to pay too close attention to the lyrics.

This weekend you’re getting a special treat. In honour of that trip to our homeland and the musical bonding my daughter and I had, I’m kicking off your weekend with not one, but TWO songs. The first is my daughter’s favourite, “Teenage Anarchist” by Against Me! from album White Crosses released in 2010. The second is mine, “Gold Guns Girls” by Metric from the 2009 album Fantasies.